Thurston High School Launches Teacher-Hosted Interest Groups

Thurston High School is excited to introduce a new way for students to connect and learn outside the classroom: teacher-hosted interest groups. These groups, led by staff members, give students the chance to explore new hobbies, meet new peers based on common interests, and build community in fun and engaging ways.

The first round of groups on Friday, October 3^rd, has already sparked creativity and camaraderie across campus. From the quiet focus of crocheting in the library, to the laughter of a UNO card tournament, to the challenge of fire-making and outdoor skills, to the imagination unleashed in a crafting studio building props for Dungeons & Dragons, students are discovering new ways to learn, share, and grow.

Students say the new groups are helping reinforce a fun campus culture. “I did the pumpkin lantern activity and I had a ton of fun,” said Cooper, a 10th grade student. “Lots of my friends ended up being in the same session—just by luck. We had a great time.”

These activities embody Thurston’s core values of Caring, Brave, and Prepared. Students are caring by supporting one another in new learning, brave by stepping into unfamiliar experiences, and prepared by developing skills that stretch beyond traditional academics. By bringing students and teachers together around shared interests, Thurston is creating opportunities for connection, belonging, and joy—one interest group at a time.